Months ago I posted elsewhere and in this thread about suggestions for square filter setups. I was adding an additional new camera to my kit and wanted another set of filters for that camera (I often shoot with multiple cameras in the field). I did hours and hours of research and nearly settled with a very expensive NiSi kit.

Then, I went on holiday for a fortnight and remembered my habits of shooting; for me, a square filter setup is simply not feasible. Despite feeling a little "less professional", I've opted to continue with round screw-in filters on the basis that they setup much quicker in the field and will put up with a lot more abuse than a square setup. I rely on my gear to be durable, not fragile - and the conditions and habits in which I do photography requires quick setup and tear-down.

Anyway, I ordered a new 82mm (been using 77mm filters for a decade) Hoya CPL and settled on Firecrest's ND3.0, both in round filters. Have to say I'm well impressed with both, and they both may stay glued onto my TSE 24L II during those months in which the sun is up all day. Here's my first shot from this filter setup, a three minute exposure from yesterday:

ken2000ac wrote in post #18565726Months ago I posted elsewhere and in this thread about suggestions for square filter setups. I was adding an additional new camera to my kit and wanted another set of filters for that camera (I often shoot with multiple cameras in the field). I did hours and hours of research and nearly settled with a very expensive NiSi kit.

Then, I went on holiday for a fortnight and remembered my habits of shooting; for me, a square filter setup is simply not feasible. Despite feeling a little "less professional", I've opted to continue with round screw-in filters on the basis that they setup much quicker in the field and will put up with a lot more abuse than a square setup. I rely on my gear to be durable, not fragile - and the conditions and habits in which I do photography requires quick setup and tear-down.

Anyway, I ordered a new 82mm (been using 77mm filters for a decade) Hoya CPL and settled on Firecrest's ND3.0, both in round filters. Have to say I'm well impressed with both, and they both may stay glued onto my TSE 24L II during those months in which the sun is up all day. Here's my first shot from this filter setup, a three minute exposure from yesterday:

Funny you say that because after using square I personally feel like I could never go back to circular filters. They may have a few additional steps to get them on compared to cicurlar, but they are a lot faster to get off if you need to refocus or recompose.

It's really about personal preference and as long as you get results you're happy with is what counts

I prefer square for the ease of slotting in and out, I’ve tried circular before but found it hard not to change the focus at times when putting on a strong ND. Also with wide angle lenses I found stacking screw on filters would vignette on certain lenses. Perhaps slim filters wouldn’t but I’m stuck in my ways now

xpfloyd wrote in post #18565737Kenny, just wanted to say your SA and table mountain images are superb!

Many thanks. If I'm honest, SA is just ridiculously photogenic!

Dlee13 wrote in post #18565742Funny you say that because after using square I personally feel like I could never go back to circular filters. They may have a few additional steps to get them on compared to cicurlar, but they are a lot faster to get off if you need to refocus or recompose.

It's really about personal preference and as long as you get results you're happy with is what counts

Agree wholeheartedly with the last line. It does *feel* like I've chosen a lesser professional option, but at the end of the day it's not my day job after all. What sealed the decision was the following factors, from most important to least important:

1. Compact size and durability - I tend to stick round filters in my back packet when I'm out. I'm not flippant with my gear, but I don't want to babysit it. Especially when I travel - when I go abroad I take carry-on luggage only, always.

2. Refocusing or recomposing could be an issue with my old 5DII but I'm so impressed with high-ISO performance and Live View with the 5DSR it makes the point moot for me.

3. Cost - I wasn't really willing to spend the extra money to be perfectly honest!

xpfloyd wrote in post #18565744I prefer square for the ease of slotting in and out, I’ve tried circular before but found it hard not to change the focus at times when putting on a strong ND. Also with wide angle lenses I found stacking screw on filters would vignette on certain lenses. Perhaps slim filters wouldn’t but I’m stuck in my ways now

Vignetting was a concern, especially as I've been using filters that have been far too small for ages (using step down rings from 82mm to 77mm). Shocking, I know. Thankfully, I'm not getting much vignetting at all with the two I've just purchased, even at full shift.

I wish I could have made the circular filters work, I had built my kit around them but I couldn't filter stack at 17mm and I started having issues in misty conditions with the stacked filters not coming undone when wet on other lenses.

Been using circular for years but recently made the switch and couldn't be happier.

ken2000ac wrote in post #18565758Many thanks. If I'm honest, SA is just ridiculously photogenic!

Agree wholeheartedly with the last line. It does *feel* like I've chosen a lesser professional option, but at the end of the day it's not my day job after all. What sealed the decision was the following factors, from most important to least important:

1. Compact size and durability - I tend to stick round filters in my back packet when I'm out. I'm not flippant with my gear, but I don't want to babysit it. Especially when I travel - when I go abroad I take carry-on luggage only, always.

2. Refocusing or recomposing could be an issue with my old 5DII but I'm so impressed with high-ISO performance and Live View with the 5DSR it makes the point moot for me.

3. Cost - I wasn't really willing to spend the extra money to be perfectly honest!

Vignetting was a concern, especially as I've been using filters that have been far too small for ages (using step down rings from 82mm to 77mm). Shocking, I know. Thankfully, I'm not getting much vignetting at all with the two I've just purchased, even at full shift.

thats interesting, I wonder if it’s due to the larger image circle on the TSE

I sold my Lee 100mm (basic grad only) set up when I sold my Canon 17-40L back in..... 2013-14ish? I already had those cheap (Kood?) plastic holders so went back to using them as I was back to 28mm on the wide end & 58mm filter threads plus for how often I used them....

But. Now..

Now, I am getting back into things again. My biggest pain is having the CPL (and sometimes ND) before the grad holder so I am thinking of trying square solid ND's & a CPL mounted on the front <----- that seems to be where most of the expense is by the looks of things..!!

I'm currently pricing up options with Lee/Hitech & 85mm/100mm

Oh, my widest currently is 28mm - I might, might swap out for the FE24-70mm at some point though but I certainly can't see myself going any wider than that again.

I sold my Lee 100mm (basic grad only) set up when I sold my Canon 17-40L back in..... 2013-14ish? I already had those cheap (Kood?) plastic holders so went back to using them as I was back to 28mm on the wide end & 58mm filter threads plus for how often I used them....

But. Now..

Now, I am getting back into things again. My biggest pain is having the CPL (and sometimes ND) before the grad holder so I am thinking of trying square solid ND's & a CPL mounted on the front <----- that seems to be where most of the expense is by the looks of things..!!

I'm currently pricing up options with Lee/Hitech & 85mm/100mm

Oh, my widest currently is 28mm - I might, might swap out for the FE24-70mm at some point though but I certainly can't see myself going any wider than that again.

Lee, check out the filter dude website for lee compatible rings and holders. I use the rings from them with my Lee kit and they are spot on. Much cheaper than the actual Lee versions. They also do coloured rubber caps so that you can leave the rings attached. They deliver to the U.K. too

xpfloyd wrote in post #18566581Lee, check out the filter dude website for lee compatible rings and holders. I use the rings from them with my Lee kit and they are spot on. Much cheaper than the actual Lee versions. They also do coloured rubber caps so that you can leave the rings attached. They deliver to the U.K. too

Now, I am getting back into things again. My biggest pain is having the CPL (and sometimes ND) before the grad holder so I am thinking of trying square solid ND's & a CPL mounted on the front <----- that seems to be where most of the expense is by the looks of things..!!

NiSi approach gets you out of the cost of having a super-big CPL on the front of the whole shebang, as you have to have with Lee. Worth thinking about ... but the different systems all have their own particular pros and cons.

That's what I found so attractive about the system. I do appreciate your suggestion and nearly bought the NiSi kit. If I hadn't gone on holiday, I probably wouldn't have re-thought my real requirements.

LeeRatters wrote in post #18566564......Now, I am getting back into things again. My biggest pain is having the CPL (and sometimes ND) before the grad holder so I am thinking of trying square solid ND's & a CPL mounted on the front <----- that seems to be where most of the expense is by the looks of things..!!

I'm currently pricing up options with Lee/Hitech & 85mm/100mm

Oh, my widest currently is 28mm - I might, might swap out for the FE24-70mm at some point though but I certainly can't see myself going any wider than that again.

The Wine Country Camera system has a built in CPL on the inside. It's not the cheapest option out there bit it works very well. The knob on the bottom is what turns the CPL. The system is good all the way to 17mm.

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